HarvestHub Specification

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HarvestHub

The Smart Way to Harvest Every Step.

Overview

HarvestHub is an open-source biomechanical energy harvesting platform designed to convert human movement into usable electrical energy. By capturing recoverable mechanical energy generated during walking, running, and everyday activities, HarvestHub aims to make wearable power generation more efficient, accessible, and practical.

The platform prioritizes maximum energy recovery while maintaining natural biomechanics, balance, comfort, and lightweight construction. Its modular architecture supports harvesting energy from multiple joints, including the knee, ankle, and hip, with intelligent motion detection, adaptive energy capture, and integrated power management.

HarvestHub is designed as an extensible platform for researchers, engineers, makers, and contributors to advance wearable energy harvesting through open collaboration.

Project Goals

Maximize electrical energy harvested from natural human movement.
Surpass existing biomechanical energy harvesting products through measurable engineering improvements.
Minimize device weight, mechanical resistance, and physical bulk.
Preserve natural gait, balance, joint alignment, and mobility.
Optimize comfort for extended everyday use.
Maximize energy recovery relative to additional metabolic effort.
Support modular harvesting across multiple joints.
Adapt energy generation to individual movement patterns and activity levels.
Provide efficient energy storage and configurable electrical outputs.
Make hardware designs, software, research, and documentation openly accessible.
Establish a scalable foundation for future wearable energy harvesting innovations.

Core Modules

Biomechanical Energy Harvesting

The primary energy generation module captures recoverable mechanical energy from natural human movement.

Features:

Harvest kinetic energy during walking, running, and other physical activities.
Capture negative mechanical work during joint deceleration.
Apply regenerative braking principles to biomechanical movement.
Maximize recoverable energy without unnecessarily increasing physical effort.
Optimize harvesting across different phases of the gait cycle.
Support continuous energy generation during repetitive movement.
Adapt harvesting intensity to movement velocity and joint position.
Provide configurable energy harvesting profiles.
Measure mechanical input and electrical output.
Optimize net energy recovery relative to metabolic cost.
Support independent harvesting configurations for individual joints.
Evaluate energy recovery under different movement conditions.

Lightweight Mechanical Architecture

The mechanical module provides the structural foundation for efficient energy capture while minimizing weight and movement interference.

Features:

Ultra-lightweight structural construction.
High-strength, low-weight materials.
Compact mechanical assemblies.
Optimized transmission and gear ratios.
Low-friction bearings and mechanical interfaces.
High-efficiency mechanical power transfer.
Reduced rotational inertia.
Compact generator integration.
Reinforced structural components.
Modular and replaceable mechanical assemblies.
Weight distribution optimized around natural movement.
Reduced vibration and mechanical noise.
Accessible maintenance and component replacement.
Fatigue-resistant mechanical construction.
Configurable mechanical geometry.

Balance and Biomechanical Optimization

This module ensures energy harvesting works with natural human movement rather than compromising stability or mobility.

Features:

Anatomically aligned joint assemblies.
Natural knee articulation.
Adjustable joint positioning.
Gait-aware energy harvesting.
Adaptive mechanical resistance.
Movement velocity and acceleration analysis.
Reduced rotational inertia.
Center-of-mass optimization.
Balanced weight distribution.
Independent left-leg and right-leg calibration.
Compensation for individual gait differences.
Biomechanical movement simulation.
Gait interference measurement.
Stability and mobility testing.
Optimization of energy recovery without unnecessary joint loading.

Comfort and Ergonomics

The ergonomic module focuses on making HarvestHub practical for extended wear and different body types.

Features:

Anatomically contoured brace assemblies.
Adjustable attachment systems.
Breathable and ventilated contact surfaces.
Replaceable cushioning and padding.
Pressure distribution optimization.
Adjustable sizing and fitting.
Low-profile mechanical assemblies.
Quick-release attachment mechanisms.
Skin-friendly contact materials.
Vibration and noise reduction.
Temperature-conscious housing.
Minimized pressure around sensitive anatomical areas.
Customizable fitting components.
Extended-wear comfort testing.
Individualized ergonomic calibration.

Intelligent Motion Detection

The motion detection module identifies movement patterns and determines when energy harvesting should occur.

Features:

Real-time movement monitoring.
Inertial measurement.
Joint-angle detection.
Movement velocity tracking.
Acceleration and deceleration measurement.
Gait-phase identification.
Walking and running recognition.
Adaptive generator engagement.
Automatic generator disengagement.
Personalized movement calibration.
Activity recognition.
Configurable harvesting thresholds.
Sensor-assisted energy optimization.
Low-power monitoring.
Continuous movement analysis.

Adaptive Energy Conversion

This module manages the conversion of captured mechanical energy into usable electricity.

Features:

High-efficiency electromagnetic generation.
Compact brushless generator integration.
Optimized mechanical-to-electrical conversion.
Variable generator engagement.
Configurable generator characteristics.
Electrical rectification.
Voltage regulation.
Current regulation.
Independent generator channels.
Low-loss electrical conversion.
Overvoltage protection.
Overcurrent protection.
Electrical isolation where appropriate.
Expandable generator configurations.
Performance measurement and optimization.

Intelligent Power Management

The power management module regulates harvested electricity and coordinates energy storage and distribution.

Features:

Real-time voltage monitoring.
Current and power measurement.
Energy production tracking.
High-efficiency DC-DC conversion.
Maximum power point tracking where applicable.
Intelligent charging management.
Configurable output voltage.
Battery charging support.
Supercapacitor charging support.
Independent power channel management.
Energy distribution across multiple modules.
Low-power standby operation.
Overcharge and over-discharge protection.
Thermal protection.
Electrical fault detection.
Configurable energy management profiles.

Energy Storage and Output

This module provides flexible energy storage and makes harvested electricity available to external devices.

Features:

Modular battery integration.
Supercapacitor energy storage.
Replaceable storage modules.
Regulated DC output.
USB-C connectivity.
USB-C Power Delivery support where appropriate.
Configurable electrical outputs.
Wearable electronics charging.
Low-power sensor support.
GPS and tracking device power support.
External energy storage compatibility.
Simultaneous harvesting and storage.
Battery state-of-charge monitoring.
Energy availability reporting.
Modular charging interfaces.

Firmware and Software Control

The software control module coordinates sensors, generators, energy conversion, and system operation.

Features:

Configurable energy harvesting algorithms.
Real-time sensor processing.
Gait-phase detection.
Adaptive generator control.
Automated harvesting optimization.
Personalized operating profiles.
Hardware abstraction for interchangeable components.
Sensor calibration.
Generator calibration.
Power management control.
Real-time diagnostics.
Fault detection.
Firmware update support.
Configurable operating parameters.
Performance benchmarking.
Data logging and export.
Modular software architecture.

Monitoring and Energy Analytics

The analytics module provides insight into harvesting performance, movement patterns, and energy production.

Features:

Live power-generation monitoring.
Voltage and current measurements.
Total energy harvested.
Energy generated per step.
Energy generated per distance traveled.
Average power measurements.
Peak power measurements.
Gait frequency tracking.
Movement pattern analysis.
Generator efficiency measurements.
Battery state-of-charge monitoring.
Temperature monitoring.
Historical energy production records.
Performance comparison across configurations.
Harvesting efficiency reports.
Exportable measurement data.
Performance visualization.

Safety and Reliability

The safety module protects the wearer and equipment while supporting reliable operation.

Features:

Mechanical travel limits.
Joint-alignment safeguards.
Emergency mechanical disengagement.
Quick-release mechanisms.
Fail-safe generator disengagement.
Generator overload protection.
Electrical short-circuit protection.
Overvoltage and overcurrent protection.
Battery protection.
Thermal monitoring.
Mechanical fatigue testing.
Structural load testing.
Vibration testing.
Electrical fault detection.
Passive mechanical operation when electronics are unavailable.
Safety validation under different movement conditions.

Customization and Accessibility

This module enables users and contributors to adapt HarvestHub to different body dimensions, movement patterns, and energy requirements.

Features:

Adjustable brace sizing.
Left-leg and right-leg configurations.
Customizable attachment geometry.
Replaceable padding.
Interchangeable mechanical components.
Adjustable harvesting resistance.
Configurable generator capacity.
Customizable firmware profiles.
Single-joint configurations.
Multi-joint configurations.
Custom 3D-printable fitting components.
Accessible assembly documentation.
Replaceable and serviceable components.
Adaptable designs for different applications.

Optional Plugin Modules

Knee Harvesting Plugin

Provides an independent knee-mounted energy harvesting assembly.

Features:

Knee joint movement monitoring.
Negative-work energy capture.
Adaptive regenerative braking.
Joint-angle detection.
Variable resistance control.
Compact generator integration.
Adjustable knee alignment.
Independent energy production monitoring.

Ankle Harvesting Plugin

Extends energy harvesting to ankle movement.

Features:

Ankle articulation monitoring.
Energy capture during selected movement phases.
Configurable harvesting resistance.
Adaptive engagement and disengagement.
Compact ankle-mounted generator assembly.
Integration with the centralized power management system.
Independent ankle energy analytics.

Hip Harvesting Plugin

Adds an optional hip movement harvesting module.

Features:

Hip movement monitoring.
Gait-phase recognition.
Selective energy harvesting.
Adaptive mechanical engagement.
Lightweight attachment architecture.
Independent power generation monitoring.
Coordination with other harvesting modules.

Dual-Leg Harvesting Plugin

Coordinates harvesting across both legs.

Features:

Independent left-leg and right-leg harvesting.
Synchronized energy management.
Balanced component distribution.
Independent gait calibration.
Combined electrical output.
Cross-module performance analytics.
Configurable bilateral operation.
Individual module diagnostics.

Advanced Generator Plugin

Provides interchangeable generator configurations for experimental and performance-focused applications.

Features:

Alternative electromagnetic generator designs.
Miniaturized generator assemblies.
Variable generator characteristics.
High-efficiency conversion configurations.
Experimental smart-material harvesting.
Supplemental piezoelectric harvesting.
Generator performance benchmarking.
Modular electrical interfaces.

Advanced Energy Storage Plugin

Expands energy storage and power delivery capabilities.

Features:

Additional battery capacity.
Expandable supercapacitor banks.
Hot-swappable storage configurations where electrically and mechanically safe.
Advanced charging management.
Multiple output channels.
Configurable power distribution.
External storage integration.
Extended energy monitoring.

AI-Assisted Biomechanical Optimization Plugin

Uses intelligent analysis to improve harvesting performance while maintaining biomechanical priorities.

Features:

Personalized gait analysis.
Movement pattern recognition.
Adaptive harvesting recommendations.
Individualized generator engagement profiles.
Energy recovery optimization.
Balance and movement consistency analysis.
Comfort-related performance feedback.
Historical performance comparisons.
Predictive maintenance recommendations.
User-configurable optimization priorities.

Wearable Device Integration Plugin

Connects HarvestHub to compatible wearable electronics.

Features:

Wearable sensor power support.
GPS device integration.
Activity tracker integration.
Medical sensor power support.
Low-power wireless device support.
Configurable power delivery.
Energy availability monitoring.
External device compatibility.

Research and Experimental Development Plugin

Provides a framework for testing new energy harvesting methods and biomechanical configurations.

Features:

Experimental generator integration.
Alternative mechanical transmission designs.
Advanced material testing.
Biomechanical simulation.
Gait research data collection.
Energy conversion benchmarking.
Configurable experimental parameters.
Comparative performance analysis.
Reproducible testing procedures.
Community-contributed research configurations.

Performance and Engineering Objectives

HarvestHub development will be guided by measurable engineering objectives rather than unverified performance claims.

Energy Generation

Maximize recoverable electrical energy.
Benchmark against existing biomechanical energy harvesters.
Measure average and peak electrical output.
Measure energy generated per step and distance.
Evaluate conversion efficiency.
Measure additional metabolic effort.
Optimize net energy recovery.

Lightweight Construction

Minimize total device weight.
Reduce mechanical bulk.
Minimize rotational inertia.
Optimize material strength relative to weight.
Reduce unnecessary structural components.
Maintain durability and serviceability.

Balance and Comfort

Preserve natural gait mechanics.
Minimize movement restrictions.
Optimize anatomical alignment.
Distribute weight evenly.
Minimize pressure and friction.
Evaluate extended-wear comfort.
Validate stability under different activity conditions.

Reliability and Safety

Validate mechanical durability.
Test electrical protection systems.
Evaluate thermal performance.
Validate emergency disengagement.
Test under different user movement patterns.
Establish repeatable safety and performance benchmarks.

All performance targets will be validated through controlled testing. Higher electrical output must not come at the expense of wearer safety, balance, comfort, or excessive metabolic effort.

Specification Branding License (SBL)

Standard

Fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant system.
Copyleft enforced for network deployments.
Required attribution:
- Roxanne Ardary
- https://www.roxanneardary.com/

Optional

Specification Branding License (SBL)
- Attribution-free commercial deployment.
- Pricing based on scale, usage, and deployment scope.
- https://roxanneardary.com/harvesthub/

License & Notice Requirements

HarvestHub is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

By contributing to any Open Arsenal project, you agree that your contributions will also be released under this license.

Please note the following:

All contributions must comply with the AGPL-3.0+ terms.
Under Section 7 of the license, all redistributions, forks, and derivative works must preserve attribution to: Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.
HarvestHub specifications are free to use with attribution. A Specification Branding License can be negotiated upon request.
The project’s notice.md file tracks attribution requirements and contributor acknowledgments. Any update that adds new contributors or modifies attribution should also update notice.md.
When submitting a pull request, ensure that any new files maintain the attribution headers where applicable.
Network-deployed versions of this software must also remain fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant, including exposure of source code modifications when applicable under the license.

For full legal details, please refer to the AGPL-3.0+ license and the project’s notice.md file.

Notice – HarvestHub

Attribution Requirement: Under Section 7 of the AGPL 3.0+ license, all redistributions, forks, and derivative works, including network-deployed versions of this project, must provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.

Contributors

This file tracks contributors and their specific contributions to the project.

Roxanne Ardary, roxanneardary.com – October 30, 2026
Created the repository for HarvestHub. Developed the project concept and initial specifications for an open-source biomechanical energy harvesting platform focused on maximizing energy recovery while optimizing balance, comfort, lightweight construction, and natural movement.
[Add other contributors here] – [Date]
[Describe contribution in one sentence]

License – HarvestHub

This repository is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

Key Points:

You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code.
All redistributions, forks, and derivative works or network-deployed versions must also be licensed under AGPL-3.0+ and provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com as required under Section 7 of the license.
The software is provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind.

For the full license text, see GNU AGPL-3.0 License.